AFC Bournemouth were the Premier League team that indicated they would be willing to pay an eight figure sum for Sheffield United’s David Brooks last season, The Star can reveal.

Chris Wilder confirmed in December that an unnamed top flight club had made an enquiry for the youngster, less than a month after making his international debut for Wales.

Although the United manager refused to divulge either the source of the approach or identity of those involved, he did confirm Brooks’ potential suitors had suggested they would be ready to pay more than £10m to acquire his services should the 20-year-old become available.

Although Bramall Lane have yet to receive an official offer from Eddie Howe’s side, reports in Dorset suggest they have continued to track the player’s progress since registering an interest. Tottenham Hotspur also made noises about submitting a bid for Brooks at the beginning of the campaign but none materialised.

Wilder recently insisted United must retain their best talent in order to mount another play-off challenge next term. Despite eventually finishing 10th in the Championship table, they remained in top six contention until the penultimate match of the campaign after beating the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday.

Brooks, whose progress has been hampered by a bout of glandular fever, was named man-of-the-match when United triumphed 4-2 at Hillsborough in September.